Flying-machine.



H. mmsmw.

FLYING MACHINE. PLIGATIQN FILED Nov. 17, 1910.

atented Sept. 24;, 191.2.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HARDGRAVE.

FLYING MACHINE.

AFFI GATLQN NLRB Nov. 17, 19m

Paned Sept. 24, wig.

'TSHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. 'HARBGRAW FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 17, 1910.

Patente Sept. 24, '1.912.

H. HARDGRAVB.

LYING Mmmm.

APLIGATION FILED NOV. 17, 1910.

Patented Sept. 24, i912.

'7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

.EL HARDGRAVE.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOT/11j, 1910.

.Patented sept. 24, 1912.

7 SHEETS-SHBET 5.

` H. HARDGRAVE.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED mm1?, 1910.'

Patented Sept.24,19112.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

L@ NM wm M @awa/nto@ v 'Hg/yy #QW/wam;

GMW

Heiner Heitinenevn,

Aor Detienen, Texels.

rinitis-MACHINE.

Specification of Lettere Patent.

Patented sept. 24, 1912".

implication filed November Wvg/19110. Serial No. 592,873.

To all wiom may concern? Be it known that l, HARRY HARD'GRAVE, e.citizen of the United States, residing et Delbert, in the county of'Dellem and :State ot Texas, have invented vnew and useful lmprovementsin FlyingMacbines, of which the following is :i specification.

This invention relates to liying machines of tlie'vl'xeevientllairnirclass, and one of its objectsA is to provide e machine wherein rotarybeating Wings are employed to sustain tbe meciiine, the blades of WhichWings are automatically feathered for e maximum resistance end beatingetiect on the working portion of their orbit ot movement end "edjustedto e non-resisting position on the return portion of their' movement,thel errongement oLt the blades being suoli es to secure s const-ontsustaining action.

A further object the invention is .to provide e, novel construction ofWings ond feetliering mechanism whereby t-lie blades or" tbe Wings ereopened and closed :it proper intervals, und e. iioel construction oipro" peiling meclienisrn einmdying propellers operative to increase thepressure o" oir ege-inst tbe beating Wings, whereby their sustainingsation will be promoted toe meteriel degree.

i still further object of' the invention is to `provide propellingdevices and ineens under control ot the aviator for adjusting tee semeto drive the mecliine forwardly er beck- Wardly, to steer'the machinevertically end letersily, and to litt the machine und reguletsA itsdescent.

further obiect of the ivc-ution is de automatic ineens, in tbe .uutureperocliutic eppliauce, for 'sustoining niecliiue and causing its gradualand sere 'fles-:zent to tlie ground in tbe event et damage to tbe normalsustaining portions With these and other obiects in View, the inventionconsists oct tlie features of construction, combination end arrangementot parte, hereinafter 'fully described und claimed, reference being bsdto tlie eccomponying drawings, in Whicliz-e I Figure 1 is o. frontelevation of flying machine constructed in accordance 'with myinvention. Fig. 2 is e top plan view of the seme. Fie; 3 is e sideelevation. llig. is n vertical"longitudinal section. Fig. o is'everticaltrensverse section. Fig. G is e dea detail View, showing. aportion of one of for vteutliering;the seme. Fig 8 is le vdetail View ofthe means for adjusting and controlling t-he propellers. Fig. 9is eview, partially in section, showing the parachute device opened foroperation.

The mein tromeof the machine may be ot any suitable generalconstruction, but preferably embodies :t bese portion oi` cer 1 tosupport the engines, main drive gearing, passengers and other parte oithe load weight, end e superstructure 2 which cerries the moinsustaining end propelling de vices of the machine. As shown, the car orbese portion of the treme comprises upper and loiver sets of parallellongitudinal bers 8, cross bers et connecting the front and rear ends ottbe respective sets of bers 3, end suitable intermediate cross ieces 5,the upper and lower sets of bers eilig connected and reinforced by enydesired construction and errengement ot braces 6.'

The 'bese freine portion i also includes e. pair out bers 7 erronged eteech :it tbe Atrout and rear) oi the machine yendv connected with tbebers 3 ond et, seid bers 7 extending upwardly iii divergent relation andforming portions of the superstructure Q, seid bers being secured ettheir upper ends to bracket members 8 to which are also secured frontend rear cross bers 9, the broek ets 8 at eecb side o't-be treme havingbeern ings for e pair ot longitudinally extendingv parallel hollowsbatte l0 which couple tlee trout 'end rear treme bers of thesuperstructure together end tlius complete the formel tion ot ,seidsuperstructure. in addition, the mein 'treme embodies other features ofconstruction employed for connecting end. supporting operative parte 'otthe machine, es will be hereinafter fully described. Elie shafts l()inclose internal shafts 1l which lieve bearing therein and in thebrackets 8 end support end transmit motion to the driving propellersupon tbe superstructure.

Arranged on eecn side of the center ot the machine is e litting and sustaining wing, seid Wings being/mounted upon the slieits 1G to rotate inen inward direction cogli they may be mountedy .tof rotate in en offnr'erd 1irection Eecb, Wing consistsoii on -idler series oitequidistently` l arranged radial bledes 13, en'ch blade e131-,

tbebeater wings and the cam mechanism'.

teil vieiw of one of the propellers. Figc'? is se end (i. e.,

lougitudiuel .liti

i insecte; 8

the strait 30 ofthe propeller 27 by rods or links 54. A vertical shaft'is journaled on theoframe and carries pinions 56 and 57 which mesh withthe teeth of the respective rack bars, whereby lateral motion may beimparted to the bars upon the rotation of y the shaft. rEhelovver end ofthe shaft carries a beveled gear 58 meshing with a bev eled pinion 59 onthe adjacent end of a longitudinally extending adjusting shaft 60,

which shaft is connected by intermeshing beveled gears 61 with anoperating or controlling shaft 6'2 carrying a hand wheel 63. By turningthe shaft 62 1n onedirection or the other the propellers at each end ofthe frame may be simultaneously swung laterally in either direction forlaterall steering or balancing or the machine, all of the propellersmoving in a common direction, as will be readily understood. The rod 4:7is connected. at its lowerend with an arm 64 connected 'with a vWorintoothed segment 65 pivotally mounted to swing vertically on the frame,said segment meshing with a Worm pinion 66 on the adjacent end 'of alongitudinally extending adjust-ing shaft? connected by intermeshingbeveled gears 68 with a. controlling rod or shaft 69 having a hand Wheel70. By the rotation oi tiis shaft 69 in one direction or thecther ver-Atical motion will be communicated to the armv 6e to swing the rod 4f? upor down and transmit corresponding motion to all of the propellersthrough the described link connections, thus enabling the propellers tobe adjusted .for lifting and vertical steering operations. It will beseen that theconnee j tions described are the same at cach end of themachine, and that both sets of.propellers are controlled lfor thepurposes described through cominon cont-rolling devices. A bell cranklever 71 is pivotally mounted at each. end of the frame and is connectedby a rod or link '72 with a crank' arm 73 on a rock shaft T4, whichsha-it is journaled in suitable bearings 75 on the raclr bar e8 to swingin vertical plane and is provided at its end' with .arms '76 coupled byrods or links 77 to bell cranlr levers 78 connected With 'the arms e3 ofthe yolres d2 of the upper propellers 25 and Q6, whereby through arocking mot-'on olf said shaft 7d through the medium of the lever 7l thecollars 39 of said propellers may be shifted back and forth to adjustthe blades 33 thereof 'to reversing position ii' different Workingangles, as hereinbeore set forth. Levers 79 are mounted on the frame andreaped tivelv connected with` the bell crank levers 71 Wires or suitableflexiblemponnections 80 by which the prpellers at each end of themachine be independently reversed or adjusted 'for variable 'workingaction.

For the purpose et reversing and. adjusn ing the blades of both lowerpropellers inde-` pendently or simultaneouslfbell.crank levers 81arednounted on the. thrustrods 47.

andfconnected with the yokes e2v of said propellers and withvcordsorconnections 82 leading,- 'to operating leversv83, thrugh theoperationoi which the blades of said propellers may be adjusted in anobvious man ner. The controlling devices' above described arewmounted ina convenient position upon the frame adjacent to the aviators seat. Thebeat-ing and sustaining Wings and associated propellers Aare' drivenfrom the shaft Se operated by a motor 8 5, the iront and rear ends ot'saidshatbeing provided with sprocket Wheels 'connected by sprocketchains 87 with sprocket wheels 88 on'the shafts l0, the frontfchain.constituting a direct drive for propellingthe. shaft 10 inmediatelyabove it in the same direction as the shaft' 84;, Whilel the rear.l

chain extends diagonally to ,the rear end of the opposite shaft 10 andis crossed for pro# pollingv said shaft in the reverse directloni, Thebeating and sustaining Wings and asso.- ciated propellers are alsodriven -fro'xn a. shaft 89 operated'by an engine 90, .which shaft isprovided at its front and rear-ends. with sprocket Wheels 91, connectedwith sprocket Wheels 92 on the propeller 'drive shafts ll. by chains 93,arranged in a similar inamiento the driving chains 8f?. @n the shaft 89is also a sprocket Wheel 94 connected with a sprocket Wheel 95 on theshaft 32 by a chain 96 whereby the lo'vver'prd pellers 27 are driven.

In order to insure the slovv and safede- 'scent of the machine to theground in the event o' accident or derangement ofi" the sustainingdevices above described, I provide a safety appliance in the forni of asuspension member or parachute which is automatically thrown intooperation Whenever able degree. ,This device comprises a verticallymovable frame consisting of iront and rear standards 9? verticallyslidable in guides 98 on the traine bars 9 and 5l, Which standards carryand are connected at their upper ends by a longitudinally eat-endingguard or shield 99 arranged inthe center line of the machine immediatelyabove the clearance space between the sustaining 4wings. This guard orshield, which is approtimately o'lA .inverted 'li-formt in crosssection, is reinforced from the traine standards by braces 1 0() andoperated in conjunction with the parachute aprons, hereinafterdescribed, as a detlector to deflect the currents oi air flowing'inwardly and upwardly 'from the beater wings in an outward direction andprevent down drafts or currents of air between the-acting blades of thewings through the suction produced thereby, thus preventing thedepressing action of currents of air from above. 'lhe standards supportthe machine drops or falls to ,any appreci-v roo .iili o? W1 mimi; elmfs102, and Whieii niece@ lOl wliieli zii-:o p'fovied ei'oss pier- 11 'formhousings fol coilecl Inooi springe 105i`v each Secured al; one to the@foes piene and it it; opposite emi lo l'ie eesoeiziizeifl Winding Shaften 1f. Simili is n roll lO-lv 'formed an apron wif mums or othersuilafble mfueiizil3 one emi ol: Whiel'l suilably fne'enefl in elleshaft. The free enfle or edges of the reepeeiive npi'onn beingLonnecleci to 'the upper fi'ee ends oi' sfpiwulei's of.' coniiecingdevices, 105, soiieicting' of rods pivotnlly for; ...led foi .laomlSwinging movement upon the braakes r of the 11min frame. 'lhe guard. mishield Si) iwerlumgs they rolls unil the spreader rode .105 ore normallydrawn inwardly und the aprons held rolled up by the .springe 1025.

lf, 'from any cause, the machine. shouliiJ (li-op to :my appreciableement from the Failure of the susa-ining' nieclmnisin to sup port it inthe oir, the pressue of the air ageing@ the aprons and shield will causethe safety appliance :1s a Whole to Slide up- Wmfi'lly, until the motionlieeof is limie by stops 301' on the stanflaid coming into engagementwith lihe guides. As a resultof this relative upward movement of thesafety ap'limice, lli@ api-ons will unwonnd and. extended outwardly toform a 'bow-shaped canopy o1. paiachu'io, ne illustrated in Fig. 9, thusarresting the speed of descen of the machine and causing it to descend.slowly :mil safely lo the grounfl A. pressure device S; is provided to`beni zigains the underside of the rolls 101i to liolcl the 'folds ofthe latter at all times laut, which device is snpportecl byspringpressecl mais Till?) movable in guides 11.0 on 'the framestenclarfl and limited in upward movement by steps lll.

From the foegong description, taken in (connection with the accompanyingwww ings, the construction and mode of operation of my impioved yingnieehinewill be ieaclily undeifslood7 and il; will be seen 'tha itprovides smtaining and propelling devices which are effective in 115eund at all times under. the eonrol of the 0pe1'al10i,en0l a :solelydevice n'linieh insures the slow deseen@ of die machine in the event ofthe failure o 'the suslentzition lllliile 1llie consirucion shown andCle :Weil pelierref., it will, of coiuse, lie atomi that litanyino'dilioeions wiliin @cope ol3 the invention, as defined in ihe M;:ended claims may be 11i-nale Withoulde peiling from Jie epiii 0.1.'saeiiicing any of the ailveneges of iieinif'ention.

` wingy lliis desc'ibeol my invenlioin .l

if; .rimenine including :i frame. li bf-mi'ingeQ hollow shafts jon#hearings on oppofwite Sides of .mm Centex? nl? the frame,

"Wound afbou Seial shafts, pif-@pellet shafts universally.

jointe-f?. io seid longiitndinal shells, will eziliy swinging sindleei'elly slid sible iaifaeliel; supported by lie i'eme, means for swinging and sliding breeket, .pi'opellere moufmed or. 'die propellef simile,and. oon*- neotions oelWeen the braclge enel piopellei' shells foradjusting siii@ shafts; in unison with each other and. 'witheeidlimelel:

3. A flying* machine embodying e fmme, upper propeller eliafis armngedon opposite sides of the longitudinal Centex' of elle frame eneluniveiselly mounted t0 swing Voiically" and lete'ally, a lowei`propeller shei, en ranged in line Wth'the longituinel eenter oir" the'Emme correspondingly niounefl, propellersmonned upon seid Shafts,pivotal connections between the upper and lower propeller shafts, ineensconnecefl with ille lower sefes of proaelles vertically iirougli Seialconnections, veificalllgr @ving-(ing and lea-ally sliing emol-:elconmeans foi" sliding said bmcke te swing; che piopellei's laei'ally.

il. A iying machine embodying e fname, longitudinal she's et oppositesides of' the longitudinal eenter ofthe fiume9 a larei'znlly slidingenel vertically tiling bmcliet, piropellei shafs universally jointed tosaid longitudinal shafts, propelle's mounted. on sniff. shells andhaving adjustable blades sind means, including sliding sleeves, foeefljusling said blades, a ro 'supported by le biaeliet emi* coupling;the popelleishall-s for movemeli in nnisen, devises for Vert-i callytrilling elle bi'acle'i anal popeileis and slic'iir lle brevet lo swinglle pifogflee veel( siii-ifi: snppotefl eouating; 'ille sa.' if;ee'imeczions between smal r the said sleeves fois Shilling the sleevesto lie popellei.' blades.

shaft and 5. llfying machine embodying femme, longiiicli ellyefglencling slizifsv oppfle eide@ el" 'the lengiulinel oeme of timeiframe, :ionif end rem? peopeller shafts universel" ionized lo alieenclrem' ends of' Said longi'nflinal shall@ front and. reni' no peleis n medupon lie fespec-i've pff pellen Simile, devices et ille :from and. rem

ally.

ends of the frame for vertically tilting or laterally swinging theadjacent propellers in unison, and means for simultaneously transmittingmotion to said sets of devices for adjusting the front and rearpropellers in unison in a common direction.

i S. A flying machine embodying a frame, upper longitudinal shafts atopposite sides of the frame, a lower central longitudinal shaft,propeller shafts universally jointed to said upper and lowerlongitudinal shafts, coupling connections between the upper propellershafts and the lower propeller shafts, a coupling connection between theupper propeller shafts, means connected with the lowerl propeller shaftfor tilting all three shafts vertically and means associated with thecoupling connection between the upper shafts for shifting all threepropellers later- 7. A flying machine embodying a frame, upperlongitudinal shafts at opposite of the frame, a lower centrallongitudinal shaft, propeller shafts universally jointed to saidlongitudinal shafts, propellers carried by said propeller shafts, acoupling connection between the upper propeller shafts, a laterallysliding and lvertically tilting bracket supporting the lower centralpropeller shaft, coupling connections between the upper propeller shaftsand the lower propeller shafts, means connected. with the lowerpropeller shaft for vertically tilting the brackets and propellershafts. and operating means for simultaneously sliding the brackets ineither direction laterally.

8. A iiying machine embodying a frame, pair of upper propellers arrangedat opposite sides of the frame, a lower propeller disposed in a verticalplane intermediate said upper propellcrs, each of said propellers beinguniversally mounted and provided with adjustable blades, means fortilting all three propellers vertically in unison, means for swingingall three propellers laterally in unison, and means for simultaneouslyadjusting the blades of all three propellers to like degrees in unison.

A flying machine comprising a main frame, a vertically movable framemounted thereon, winding drums mounted on the latter-named frame, apronswound upon said drums, and means movably connecting the free edges ofthe aprons with the main frame.

10. A flying machine including a main frame provided with sustaining andpropel- `ling means, a vertically movable frame slidably mounted on saidmain frame, spring actuated swinging shafts journaled on the verticallymovable frame, aprons wound upon the shafts, connections between thefree edges of the aprons and the main frame, and a spring actuatedpressure device bearing upon the wound portions of the aprons.

ll. A flying machine including main frame provided with sustaining andpropelling means, a vertically movable frame slidably mounted on saidmain frame, spring-actuated winding shafts journaled on the verticallymovable frame, aprons wound upon the shafts, and connections between thefree edges of the aprons and the main frame.

1Q. A flying machine comprising ay main frame provided with sustainingand propelling means, a vertically movable frame slidably' mounted onsaid main frame, spring-actuated winding shafts ournaled on thevertically movable frame, aprons wound upon the shafts, a guard orshield arranged above said shafts and aprons, and connections betweenthe free edges of the aprons and the main frame.

In testimony whereof affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY IARDGRAVE.

W. J. LACY.

